Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Last week’s big trade that sent center Enes Kanter and sharpshooter Steve Novak to the Oklahoma City Thunder not only altered the Utah Jazz’s rotation. It also provided some roster flexibility with a few vacancies.

One thing is for sure: if Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey has the opportunity, he will use the roster space to get extended looks at guys he likes. Moreover, he has the Miller family’s support and resources to do so.

In case you are keeping score, here are the players who the Jazz have had a look at:

Training camp guys: Utah were able to take looks at guards Kevin Murphy, Dee Bost and Dahntay Jones and big men Brock Motum and Jack Cooley.

Carrick Felix: he was brought over in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers that sent John Lucas III, Malcolm Thomas and Erik Murphy to the Cavs. Felix made it through training camp and preseason, only to be waived prior to the regular season – despite having guaranteed money.

Joe Ingles: The reason Felix was let go was the fact that a few players Utah really liked became available as final NBA rosters were pared. Ingles was cut by the Los Angeles Clippers and after being claimed, he immediately became part of the Jazz’s rotation and eventually the starting line-up. A classic glue guy, he is certainly someone Utah will look to lock up this offseason. His passing, gritty defense and improved outside shooting have been very important to Snyder and the Jazz.

Jordan Hamilton: Hamilton was picked up the same day as Ingles, but never played an official minute for the Jazz. It was a bit surprising, as he has some solid NBA experience, showing some ability to score at this level.

Toure’ Murry: Murry had his moments during his rookie season with the New York Knicks, enough for several teams to inquire about his services. Utah won, but he never got any traction with the Jazz. Despite some back court injuries and gaudy D-League stat lines, he only played in one game for Utah. He was cut the next day, before his 2014-2015 pact became fully guaranteed.

Patrick Christopher: He was brought up from the D-League as a potential “3 and D” guy. He played admirably in his stint with Utah, even starting a game. Unfortunately, he was derailed by a knee injury and was cut.

Elijah Millsap: another fun success story. Brought up to replace Christopher, Millsap has proven he is more than just Paul’s younger brother. The aggressive swingman’s stats do not jump out, but he fights hard on defense, crashes the boards, can pass and hits the 3-pointer. He was understandably inked for the rest of the season.

Elliot Williams: A former first-round pick, Williams played well in his sparse minutes, but was not kept. He has since been signed and waived by the Charlotte Hornets, ironically when Charlotte acquired another former Jazz guard named Williams – Mo.

Chris Johnson: The young NBA veteran had a pair of nice games, but had some awkward timing on his 10-day deal due to the extended All-Star break. Sometimes the timing is everything.

Let me give you a moment to catch your breath in this remarkable game of musical chairs. The hope is that the Jazz find the diamonds in the rough–think Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs– and so far, in Ingles and Millsap, have done pretty well here.

Now, we are hearing the following:

Bryce Cotton fans are bound to like this news … hearing Utah Jazz lining up 10-day callup of Cotton from Austin Toros out of @nbadleague

All in a day’s work for Dennis Lindsey and company. The two moves have not been made official, but Stein and Wojnarowski have a good track record with the Jazz of late. There is a lot of talk about Utah bringing over the newly acquired 7’2″ center Tibor Pleiss, but apparently that transaction has hit a snag.

So, who are the newest, potential Jazzmen?

Bryce Cotton, 22, is a 6’1″ point guard who was a four-year player for Providence University. After not being recruited much out of high school, the Friars took a flyer on him and were better as a result. Cotton showed great improvement from season to season. A rotational player as a freshman, he started his final three seasons. He showed the ability to facilitate, play defense, hit 3-pointers in volume and get to the free throw line frequently. Cotton’s senior season was impressive: 21.8 PPG (37 percent on 6.0 3-point attempts/game and 85 percent free throws (7.6 attempts/game)), 5.9 APG and 3.5 RPG. An All-Big East selection, Cotton propelled his team to the conference championship, earning a trip to the NCAA tournament. The Friars pushed the North Carolina Tar Heels, losing 79-77. Cotton had 36 points and eight assists in the losing effort.

Despite his heroics, he went undrafted. Cotton seems used to that. The San Antonio Spurs picked him up. He played summer league for them and was in training camp before being cut. They liked him enough to snag him for their affiliate team, the Austin Spurs. He has been very good for Austin, averaging 22.4 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.7 RPG and 1.3 APG. Cotton has shot a very good 47 percent from the floor, including 45 percent from downtown (six attempts per outing). 90 percent from the free throw is also a plus. He played in the recent D-League All-Star game. The fact that the Spurs like him should be a good sign for the Jazz.

He recently posted 40-points at the D-League Showcase:

Next, Jack Cooley. The 23-year old forward has definite NBA size at 6’9″, 246 lbs. Another four-year collegiate player, Cooley excelled for Notre Dame. His first two seasons were modest, but he turned things on his junior and senior years for the Irish. He averaged a double-double–13.1 PPG and 10.1 RPG–his final season, along with 1.2 BPG. While his play secured him a number of NBA workouts in 2013, Cooley went undrafted.

After playing summer league that year for both the Houston Rockets and the Memphis Grizzlies, he took his talents to Turkey. There were reports circulating then that several NBA teams had offer him partially guaranteed deals, but he opted to go overseas. The Jazz have longed been linked with him. He worked out for them at draft time, participated in free agent mini camps for Utah and, of course, was a late training camp cut. Cooley has been playing for the Idaho Stampede, bringing his double-double action there. The big man is averaging 15.5 PPG (55 percent shooting from the floor), 10.6 RPG and 1.4 BPG. He turned a lot of heads with a recent 25-point, 20-rebound performance. Cooley’s familiarity with the Jazz system, thanks to both training camp and his time in Boise, will be a plus in his favor.

If both signings occur, the Jazz would have seven rookies on the roster–Dante Exum, Rodney Hood, Ingles, Millsap, Grant Jerrett, Cotton and Cooley. That is remarkable, even for a team that is quite young.

Between the two, Utah is hoping to shore up their bench shooting and rebounding. Cotton and Cooley will both been given the chances to stick, with two months left in the season.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Enes Kanter is the center of attention with the looming trade deadline. (Melissa Majchrzak/NBA via Getty)

The trade deadline is one of the most unique things in sports, and seemingly more so in the NBA. It is simply a remarkable combination of drama, excitement and intrigue. There are disgruntled players who feel the proverbial grass is greener elsewhere. You have young players for whom a trade can open things up for their careers. And you have veterans in losing situations hoping to get moved to contenders. There are general managers and owners looking to fine tune their team’s mix, or in some cases, to blow things up. And there are, of course, agents smack in the middle of things–for better or for worse. Lastly, you have media members constantly reporting different things from hour to hour. It’s a glorious time of the year.

Well, for the most part.

Thursday, February 19th is finally upon us. After weeks of speculation, everything comes to a head. On the heels of an exciting All-Star Weekend, everyone’s attention has been focused on what potential moves are out there.

The Utah Jazz are not an exception. Given the Enes Kanter news of the past week, people all around the association are keeping an eye on what the Jazz do or don’t do. It surely has the team’s followers more attentive than usual, which is saying a lot.

The past few years, the Jazz were among the most mentioned teams in the bevy of trade rumors. In both 2013 and 2014, Utah possessed a number of expiring contracts, most of which were attached to veterans that could potentially help other teams. And in both cases, the deadlines came and went without a single move, which was disappointing to some fans and understandable to others.

Perhaps this year might be different?

The Jazz are typically not regulars when it comes to brokering deadline deals, with only four such moves in the last 10 years. When they have, they have been moves that affected the franchise both on and off the court.

As we enter the final stretch, here is a review the deadline deals from the recent past:

This trade came in that illustrious post-Stockton and Malone season where Jerry Sloan coaxed out a marvelous season from a team some predicted to be the worst team in NBA history. It was a roster full of overachievers, including the hard-working Handlogten (Clark was a disappointment and his life has become tragic). The Jazz also possessed a lot of financial flexibility and they used it in a deal to acquire some long-term assets. Gugliotta was at the end of a nice career and was making $11.7 million–money the Suns wanted to shed. The Jazz absorbed his deal and picked up some picks along the way. His modest contributions on the court were icing on the cake.

The Jazz used one of the picks for Kirk Snyder–an unmitigated disaster. But five years later, the other pick–acquired by Phoenix through the ineptitude of the New York Knicks–eventually became Gordon Hayward. Given his All-Star level play this season, it is safe to say that this trade turned out to be a big boon for the franchise.

Stevenson had an up-and-down tenure with the Jazz. Drafted straight out of high school, he encountered some off-court troubles that marred his early career. The athletic guard played a reserve role his first three seasons and was eventually given the chance to start. Stevenson was solid, but was definitely not spectacular: 11.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 2.0 APG as a starter (He did have this redeeming interaction with Ricky Davis). His perimeter shooting was poor, which caused spacing issues (coincidentally, as his career waned, his outside shooting was his main staple). Thus the move for Giricek, which was consummated on the same day as the Gugliotta transaction.

Giricek is best known for his rough relationship with Sloan. He seemed to have frequent stays in Jerry’s doghouse. But for four seasons, he was a decent perimeter threat, but offered much beyond that. His first season, he was quite good (13.5 PPG and 36% 3s)–enough for Larry H. Miller to re-sign him to a four-year, $16 million deal. He never reached those marks again, but had moments. Eventually he was traded in a December deal for sharpshooter and fan favorite Kyle Korver.

This was a move that disappointed a lot of Jazz fans, as well as a franchise point guard in Deron Williams. Brewer had become a fan favorite thanks to his tireless energy, his defensive effort and his athletic dunks. Few players in Jazz history have functioned better without the ball. While his shooting was a weakness, Brewer shot a high percentage and looked to be a mainstay in the back court. Well, the Jazz were in the midst of some financial bedlam, thanks to several large contracts ($59 million combined for Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Deron Williams and Paul Millsap). With C.J. Miles showing some modest improvement and undrafted free agent Wesley Matthews crashing the party, Brewer was shipped out for a draft pick which was used that off-season to bring in Al Jefferson.

Brewer was reportedly on the team plane to fly out for a road trip when word came out. He bid his farewells to his coaches and teammates and went to Memphis. He unfortunately was hurt his first game with the Grizzlies and never played for them after that. His career since then has been disappointing.

Much has been said about it and it will always be a major date in franchise history. A few weeks earlier was the infamous Jazz/Bulls game that ended up being Sloan’s final at the helm. The discord between Sloan and Williams was evident and whatever transpired that fateful evening proved to be the final straw for the venerable coach. Tyrone Corbin was installed and Utah tried to get back into a groove, but things were still not right.

Then came the shocking news that D-Will had been shipped across the country to the Nets, in exchange for a package of promising players and valuable draft picks. The Nets had been in talks with the Denver Nuggets for the then-pouting star Carmelo Anthony. After their offer was usurped by the New York Knicks, the Jazz and Nets moved quickly to make this happen. Williams had been the heart and soul for Utah. His talent was remarkable, while his attitude was sometimes sour.

Who won the trade? That is a post for another day, but things are tilting more and more in favor the Jazz–pun intended. Williams has battled constant injuries throughout his time in a Nets uniform and this season has been particularly rough. The Nets are said to be shopping Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez to free things up financially. He most likely will stay, but Brooklyn’s future is murky. I don’t think this is what D-Will was envisioning.

Utah went on to pick up two #3 picks in Favors and Enes Kanter (Jazz moved up in the draft lottery that May). Favors has been absolutely terrific this season. He has added a very good midrange jumper and his passing has never been better. Combine that with his ability to finish, a formidable defensive presence and his contract, Favors is a gigantic piece of Utah’s puzzle. Harris was serviceable before being traded for Marvin Williams, who also was a nice veteran for the Jazz in his two seasons.

Much has been said about Kanter, especially given the current situation. He has shown improvement each season and has more than flashes of being an elite offensive player. He possesses a litany of moves and has been crashing the boards, especially on the offensive end. Kanter’s defensive struggles, unfortunately, have also been well chronicled. To his credit, he has shown solid improvement the past few weeks.

The final draft pick in the Nets trade was part of the package that enabled Dennis Lindsey to move up for Trey Burke. When it is all said and done, the Jazz sent Deron Williams for Favors, Kanter, Harris/Williams and part of Burke. Not a bad haul. Now, should Kanter get moved tomorrow, that will need to be taken into consideration.

While we’ve covered the past 11 years of trade deadlines, it should be noted that Jeff Hornacek was acquired. With the grade still “incomplete” on the Williams trade, the addition of #14 was the most influential trade in franchise history

With the add a deadline trade to this history tomorrow? This is the second deadline with Dennis Lindsey fully in charge, so who knows what will transpire.

Enjoy the next several hours…

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

David J Smith:

Carrick Felix, Dahntay Jones, Kevin Murphy, Dee Bost, Toure’ Murry, Tre Bussey, Jordan Hamilton, Joe Ingles, Patrick Christopher, Elijah Millsap. These are the names of the different guards and swingmen Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey has brought on board at some point the past six months. That is quite the litany of players Utah is getting a good look at. Needless to say, the robust Jazz scouting corps is earning their paychecks.

Add guard Elliot Williams to the mix, as the Jazz inked him to a 10-day contract today. Williams tweeted the following this morning:

So, who is the latest in the cycle of rotating guards? Williams is a 6’5″, 180-pound combo guard who, at just 25, has some upside. He had an illustrious high school career in Memphis. Williams played the 2008-09 season with Duke, but then transferred to Memphis where he blossomed once again in his hometown. Williams tallied 17.9 PPG (46% FGs, 37% 3s), 3.8 APG, 4.0 RPG and 1.3 SPG. He displayed a great athleticism, solid jump shooting and all-around game for the Tigers that made him appealing to many NBA teams as the 2010 Draft approached.

The Portland Trail Blazers ended up tabbing him as the 22nd pick in the first round, but unfortunately, his time in Rip City was marred by endless injuries. He missed his entire rookie campaign due to a knee injury and then, after battling back, was held out of a bulk of the 2011-12 season due to a shoulder dislocation. His third season was non-existent due to an Achilles injury and just like that, his rookie pact with Portland came and went. Over those three seasons, he played a mere 149 minutes in 24 games. It was another disappointing pick for a team in dire need of some bench depth.

To his credit, Williams has not stopped working to fulfill his NBA aspirations, which shows a good amount of fortitude and determination. After spending training camp and the preseason with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he signed on with the Philadelphia 76ers and while much can be said about Philadelphia, he earned consistent minutes last season. In 17.3 MPG, he produced 6.0 PPG, 1.9 RPG and 1.1 APG off the bench. That said, his advanced stats were not that great. He continued working out with the Sixers, but despite a solid preseason showing (11.0 PPG, 2.6 APG, 2.6 RPG), he was ultimately waived just days before this season commenced.

Williams became the 2nd overall pick in the NBA D-League Draft and has been stellar this season: 21.3 PPG (47% FGs, 39% 3s on 4.4 attempts/game), 7.7 APG, 4.7 RPG and 1.3 SPG. The gaudy assist totals are particularly eye-opening, as this stint has displayed more of a facilitating proclivity. Here he is showing his athleticism and versatility:

And a little bit more, here:

Like Ingles and Millsap, Williams fits the bill for the types of players head coach Quin Snyder loves: guys with all-around games who have some potential as passers, shooters and willing defenders. In his offensive schemes, Snyder has shown the desire to have at least three–if not four–ball handlers and facilitators to help keep the offense moving. Williams has good speed and length, giving him some potential on defense. The athleticism is something to also keep an eye on. Given the injury situations, Williams and Millsap will have opportunities to show what they can do.

This continues Lindsey’s trend of bringing in players for try-outs or looks. In his time at the helm, he’s constantly shown a willingness to fill all roster spots, throw out 10-day contracts, etc. in hopes of finding a diamond in the rough. Think Danny Green and the Spurs–that type of guy who can stick and be part of the long-term fix for Utah. It could be argued that Ingles has been such a find–a guy picked up off the waiver wire who has contributed this season.

Whatever the case may be with Williams or Millsap, you have to admire the Jazz front office in doing their homework and performing their due diligence with the end-of-the-bench spots.

Dakota Schmidt:

A mere day after Utah officially announced the signing of Elijah Millsap to a 10-day deal, the Jazz have also acquired Elliot Williams. Even though Williams has a much higher profile than Millsap, his status as an NBA prospect still remains a mystery when you consider that he’s rarely been healthy since being drafted in 2010.

With his health finally stable, Williams is unquestionably having his best season since his time in college, as he’s finally been able to showcase the traits that lead him to being a 1st round pick in 2010. While Williams has definitely developed an all-around arsenal during his time with the Santa Cruz Warriors, the basis behind his game would the combination of athleticism and explosiveness. Utilizing an extremely quick first step, Williams is an incredible on-ball penetrator as he’s able to go from the perimeter to the rim in a matter of split-seconds. Unlike Millsap, Williams has success from inside the restricted area, shooting an extremely respectable 69% from that end of the court.

While athleticism is the focal point of Williams’ game, he’s definitely not uncomfortable with shooting from the perimeter. On 4.5 attempts per game, Williams shot around 39% from beyond the arc, which would actually be a team-high among the active Jazz roster.

Perhaps the most promising aspect of Williams’ work on the offensive end would be his ability as a distributor. While 7.2 assists per game is definitely eye-catching, his 2.24 Ast/TO ratio showcases his ability to prevent turnovers.

Among the names Utah could have picked from the D-League to help mend their broken back-court rotation, Elliot Williams is probably the best option. With his play-making abilities as both a distributor and scorer, Williams should instantly become a solid part of Utah’s 2nd unit.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Quin Snyder, always the teacher, has been a breath of fresh air (Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images)

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. The food, football, family, fun and festivities are here. With that in mind, there is a lot to be grateful for from a Utah Jazz perspective. There is a lot to be excited about right now. Here are just three things for which I have gratitude, as one who has followed this team for decades:

Quin Snyder’s Passion and Philosophies: Coach Quin Snyder has been a breath of fresh air. As the first external head coach hire since the franchise’s move to Utah, everyone was very curious when his signing was announced. During his short months at the helm, Snyder has shown quite a bit about who he is and how he approaches the game of basketball. While there have been hiccups along the way, his philosophies on playing with pace and playing with the pass have already shown a lot of on-court benefit. The team is running and the players are looking for teammates more than in years past. It is getting better shots and it is shooting with more accuracy, as evidenced by the eFG% increase from .484 in 2013-14 to .508 through 15 games this year. Utah is getting to the free throw line more (+3.1% on FTA and .220 FT/FGA). The Jazz are dishing out 6.4% more assists, which is one of the more exciting developments for me.

There is still a lot of room for growth. Utah is actually getting less FGA/game (-3.8%) and is turning the ball over more (+4.3%). While the team is shooting a lot more 3-pointers – a huge 9.5% increase in attempts – the accuracy has actually gone down a touch. And we an in-depth look at the defensive end would require a separate post. It is good to remember that this is a youthful team adopting some very different nuances. It will take time, but the early signs on these fronts are positive. The fun thing: Snyder has mentioned a few times that there is a lot more he will introduce to his roster as this season progresses and in subsequent seasons. In a few years, this offense could be humming.

By most accounts, Snyder brings a professionalism, passion and intense work ethic to the table. He is thorough in his game preparation and demands a lot from his players. That sense of accountability will help elicit individual and collective improvement. It is enjoyable to see him constantly teaching, even in the throes of a few blowout losses. While a 5-10 record is still a 5-10 record, Snyder is the right person for this team, both in the now and the future.

Dennis Lindsey’s Approach: Dennis Lindsey is making this his team. Here’s a run-down on a few of the things he’s accomplished and implemented:

Lindsey wanted Trey Burke and found a way to get him, swapping the #14 and #21 picks for him. While Burke has had his areas for improvement, it was great to see the organization target the guy they wanted and do what they needed to get him.

He made a deal to snag Rudy Gobert at #27. When it’s all said and done, Gobert could be one of the biggest steals in that 2013 Draft, if not the biggest.

This is for the future, but a lot of NBA experts are high on 2013 second-round pick, Raul Neto. He showed well last summer against top flight competition. It seems likely he will come over to Utah in the next season or two.

Through an extensive interviewing and vetting process, Lindsey got his guy in Snyder. There was some familiarity from their San Antonio connection. It is clear that the GM and head coach are on the same page.

While there was some luck involved, the Jazz finished the 2014 Draft with two guys who slipped past where most prognosticated in Dante Exum and Rodney Hood. Exum has shown a lot already and the future is bright for both players.

Lindsey picked up Joe Ingles off the waiver wire and while his numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet, he has quickly become a player Snyder really trusts. He’s had several nice outings recently.

He’s picked up a gazillion draft picks in the past few years. While it could be argued that the better picks could have been acquired for the financials involved in the Golden State deal, Lindsey’s used Utah’s salary cap to broker a lot of moves that is stored the Jazz shelves with assets. My guess is he is not afraid to use them too, if and when a potential move arises. Something to watch.

Trevor Booker was on fire to start the year and while things have tapered down, he has been a nice free agent pick-up.

The Jazz have Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks locked up for the next several years. It’s early yet, but Favors and Hayward are showing they are worth their lucrative deals. Burks’ pact kicks in next year, so his growth will be something to keep an eye on this year.

Lindsey has devoted more time and resources in Utah’s scouting department. Record number of draft prospects came to Salt Lake City for workouts. The team has also held numerous mini free agent camps, workouts, etc. Lindsey’s also shown that he’s open to giving guys opportunities to have an extended tryout with the team, using the 15th roster spot for that reason.

Lindsey is well respected and is building an exciting roster that could be something special within the next few years. His transparency during interviews is refreshing. A lot of credit should go to longtime GM Kevin O’Connor. Lindsey’s taken the good things from his tenure and added to it in a lot of positive ways.

The Millers: Nothing would be possible without the Miller family; a lot of the aforementioned was made possible with the Millers’ blessings. They have shown a willingness to spend in order to acquire players and draft picks, boost the coaching and front office staff and so forth. The fact that Utah is among the NBA’s most profitable teams is a testament to the Jazz’s ownership. Utah Jazz fans are certainly very lucky to have had Larry, Gail, Greg and family. They are in this to help produce a championship caliber team. The Millers’ devotion to the community and to putting forth an excellent product on and off the court is clear to see.

There you have it–just a few Jazz-related Thanksgiving thoughts. Feel free to share yours below. Now, it’s time to pass the turkey…

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

With Utah Jazz media day in the books and training camp going full steam, optimism reigns supreme. That said, there should be a fair dose of realism, too. With this in mind, it’s time for my annual predictions. These are simply one person’s thoughts, so take them for what they’re worth. Some of these will be bold, while some will be the exact opposite.

Breakout year for Alec Burks: Given last year’s dismal season, not enough was said about the major improvements Burks saw across the board. He seems more confident (which is saying a lot for the swaggertastic Burks). His decision-making has never been better. Burks knew when to slash, shoot or pass. The numbers do the talking: career-highs in every major category; 15.8 PER (up from 11.5); 3.2 WS (up from 1.0); .449 FTr, 16.9 AST% (with a better 13.0 TOV%). Credit should also go to Corbin, who changed his position from back-up point guard to designated scorer off the pine. Quin Snyder will be the catalyst. It seems like the offense that is being implemented really plays to the strengths of a guy like Burks. In fact, he may be the one who benefits the most. Look for Burks to lead the team in scoring.

Utah will become a top 12 shot-blocking team: This would constitute a size able jump from the #20 spot. Few players have had a more productive summer than Rudy Gobert. If he enters his way into the rotation–which he will–that alone will propel progression here. Derrick Favors had an unexpected drop in this department (going from 2.6/36 min in 2013 to 1.8 last season. Likewise, his BLK% decreased from 5.7 to 3.8–the lowest since his rookie campaign). With his confidence growing as he moves forward as the team’s defensive anchor, look for a return to his elite form in this category.

Trey Burke will be a top 10 assist guy: First, a caveat: the #10 player last season, Jeff Teague, averaged 6.7 apg. Seeing as Burke doled out 5.7 dimes per outing as a rookie and finished 22nd in the NBA, this is quite realistic. While there are a lot of questions behind Snyder’s offense, the constant take of extra passing and playing with more pace can help Burke. While he was not always keen on pushing the ball last year, when he initiated some early offense looks, the Jazz offense was much more effective. Look for Burke to hit the 7 to 7.5 apg mark.

Rudy Gobert’s wingspan will still be 7’9″: Shocker, I know. We’ll also hear about cereal, video games and skateboarding ad nauseum.

No extensions come Halloween: It is encouraging that talks between Utah and their fourth-year players, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter. There are simply too many unknowns in both situations. How will they be utilized in Snyder’s system, as opposed to Tyrone Corbin’s? Will Burks be tabbed a starter? How will Kanter’s green light to shoot 3-pointers affect his outlook? Despite valiant efforts, they will come away without extensions. One minor prediction: Mehmet Okur’s presence, whatever that may be, will be a boon for Kanter’s play.

Steve Novak will not play much: Given the front court depth, this prediction is anything but bold. With Favors, Kanter, Gobert and Trevor Booker most likely to earn the lion’s share of the PT, Novak will be used as a situational player–in case of foul trouble or injuries, to create the occasional mismatch and end-of-quarter plays. Novak has too many limitations. Plus, Jeremy Evans is still in the fold, coming off a career year.

Gordon Hayward’s shooting will return to his career marks: His dismal shooting last year was well documented–41.3 percent FGs and 30.4 percent 3s. Assuming a lead role, less surrounding talent and perhaps pressure from his unresolved contract situation all probably played a part. After a busy summer that saw him become richer, happier (with his marriage) and battling against some of the game’s best, Hayward should return to form. I’m thinking 45 and 37 percent, respectively.

Utah will open with 15 on its roster: In years past, the Jazz would start with 14 to help maintain roster flexibility. Dennis Lindsey does things differently. It also helps that teams can add a guy while affixing a January guarantee date, thus making it a low-cost move. Someone out of the training camp invitees will impress and stick. Another wrinkle to watch: while a few guys have guarantees (like Felix and Ian Clark), what if a few of the free agents really stick out? Given their modest salaries, would Utah be willing to cut one of them if someone shows more short and long-term potential?

Jazz All-Star Weekend Representation: Burke will return to the Rising Stars no-defense game. Keep an eye on Gobert, too. With a less strong class of sophomores, the Frenchman could make a big jump amongst this group. Dante Exum will not make it there, but Rodney Hood will. It’s also safe to predict that Jack Cooley will not be a Slam Dunk Competition participant. No one will make the real All-Star team.

Rookie performances: Speaking of which, Hood will be viewed by many as one of the big steals of the 2014 Draft. He will be a rotational player from day one and will provide a spark with his fundamental play and much-needed perimeter marksmanship. Unlike most out there, I concur with Andrew Bogut about Exum: he won’t struggle as much as people are assuming. Yes, he will have a lot of growing pains. But his natural talent will be hard to keep off the floor. He will play more than the 15-18 MPG some are forecasting.

Snyder will turn a lot of heads: With the emphasis being more on development and systematic implementation, Snyder will have a great Honeymoon year. He will have the team playing hard and there will be a very fun brand of basketball put out there. While some other rookie coaches will see some immediate success–see Steve Kerr–he will surprise.

There are a lot more, but this will do for today. What are your predictions? Feel free to share any you may have in the comments below.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Slowly, but surely, the Utah Jazz roster is getting filled. With Washington Wizards free agent Trevor Booker agreeing to a two-year, $10 million pact with the team on Tuesday, the headcount sits at 11 guaranteed contracts.

Moreover, the front court is getting more and more crowded. With Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Rudy Gobert, recently acquired Steve Novak, Jeremy Evans and now Booker in tow, things are taking shape.

But don’t sleep on Malcolm Thomas.

Thomas is having a very solid showing at the Las Vegas summer league. He has started all three outings thus far, posting very solid numbers: 11.3 PPG (56 percent shooting), 7.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.33 BPG and 1.0 SPG in 23.7 MPG. He has been active on both ends of the court. Thomas’ energy and a double-double helped offset Gobert’s absence versus the Denver Nuggets Tuesday evening. All in all, it could be argued that he has been Utah’s most consistent performer.

Thomas has had an interesting road. He spent time at three schools in California–Pepperdine University, San Diego Community College and San Diego State University. While he had a nice collegiate career at SDSU, he went undrafted in 2011. After brief spells in South Korea, with the Los Angeles Lakers (getting cut prior to the start of the lockout season) and the D-League, he was signed to contracts with both the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets, ultimately spending most of this rookie season in the D-League.

He spent most of the 2012-13 campaign with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He then earned 10-day contracts with the Golden State Warriors and the Chicago Bulls, finishing that season with them. Finally, after two months in a second San Antonio stint, he was waived and claimed off waivers by the Jazz . Thomas only appeared in seven games. He had nine points and four rebounds in the season finale . Thomas has appeared in a grand total of 23 NBA games (135 minutes) and has enjoyed a cup of coffee with six different teams in three years.

So, why does he make sense for Utah going forward? Thomas actually brings a lot of skills to the table. He is athletic and has a good motor. Thomas has good size and agility that might allow him to play both forward positions. Very similar to counterpart Jazz forward Jeremy Evans, he is a quick jumper, using that his advantage on the glass (especially offensive boards). Thomas is a willing defender, using his length and wingspan to disrupt things. He has good time when blocking shots, especially off the weak side. Lastly, he can stick the jumper–even extending out to 3-point range .

Thomas would be in line for just $948K. Given his long, winding road, he is hungry to make a name for himself – something that is evident in the way he is playing for the Jazz. He has upside and could be a guy at the end of the bench that can continue to work on his game. In short, he’s a very low-risk, potential solid-reward type of move.

With shooting and defense being premiums, as stated often by general manager Dennis Lindsey and head coach Quin Snyder, Malcolm Thomas has every chance to find himself donning a Utah Jazz uniform come regular season tip-off.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

For the second year in a row, Utah Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey and his fellow front office cohorts had a stellar NBA Draft night. In 2013, Lindsey’s first at the helm, he brokered three trades that netted All-Rookie point guard Trey Burke, the potential-filled Rudy Gobert and a nice playmaking prospect in Raul Neto. It was an exciting night for the Utah fan base.

Then came last night. As my colleague Dan Clayton, who was on the ground at the Barclay Center, summed up so well, it was an exemplary evening for the Jazz–one that could be integral both in the present and going forward. Guard Dante Exum and swingman Rodney Hood are now officially Utah Jazzmen. Based on the reaction at EnergySolutions Arena and on the Jazz Twitter and Google+ communities, the response from the team’s supporters is overwhelming positive. There is a feeling of optimism,a welcome one after a long, sometimes trying season for all.

So, what are the experts saying? Because we can now retire–at least for a season–the mock draft roundup, let’s take one look at how the Jazz’s evening is being viewed.

ESPN

Chad Ford really earns his keep each year, especially as the Draft draws closer and closer. His live pick-by-pick analysis is always enjoyable to watch as the selections are made. When the Jazz picked Exum, here was his take:

Exum is a huge win for the Jazz. They needed a potential franchise player, and I think they got him. He’s so quick, so fast and has such great size for his position. He can play with Trey Burke, or he can, and likely will, eventually take Burke’s starting job. It’s so hard for the Jazz to lure elite talent. I think they got one here.

Regarding Hood’s selection:

This is turning into a great night for the Jazz. They were praying Exum would fall to them, then hoped Hood would drop to them at No. 23. They wanted a big shooter who could play two positions, and that’s what they got in Hood. The Jazz were devastated when they fell out of the top three on lottery night. But this draft should make Jazz fans feel really good.

When Ford doled out his grades (Insider), Utah came away as honor students with an A. Per his sources, Exum was ranked third on Utah’s draft board, while Hood was 15th. Ford goes on to suggest that Burke and Exum will team up together, but that he could see the latter taking the former’s starting position. He finishes by saying, “I know Jazz fans will feel like this draft wasn’t a home run without Jabari Parker. But it was at least a triple, and given where they were drafting, that’s an A in my book.”

CBS Sports

This site is effusive in their praise for the Jazz’s Draft Night. Zach Harper took a look at each of the Western Conference teams, issuing them a grade. He one-upped Ford by giving Utah an A+, saying “I’m not sure the Utah Jazz could have had a better draft.” He envisions a guard line that can be interchangeable, with Alec Burks factoring heavily into the equation. Harper also says that Hood is “another lottery-level talent who fell too far.” He, like a few other media members, suggests that Hood is good insurance should the Jazz opt to part ways with Gordon Hayward. That does not seem likely given their cap situation, and it seems safe to say that Hayward will be brought back.

James Herbert included Hood as one of the steals of the draft, saying it is “hard to believe [he] fell this far.” He adds that “Hood is versatile, skilled, smart and has the kind of game that should translate well immediately.” This has to make Jazz fans excited.

Sports Illustrated

Ben Golliver delved into the winners and losers and includes Burke as being one of the night’s losers due to Exum’s arrival on the scene. While Golliver thinks it can work out for a while, he surmises that “one wonders whether push will come to shove and the Jazz will have to pick between the two players.” He does say that Hood will “have the chance to compete for big minutes on a rebuilding team from day one, while playing for another former Blue Devil in coach Quin Snyder.”

USA Today

Adi Joseph gave his take in another pick-by-pick instant analysis. He was cautiously optimistic about Exum, saying “Utah had bigger needs” but those went out the door when Exum slid to the Jazz. He added that Exum “also has tremendous value on the trade market,” but it seems safe to say that Utah did not draft him to use in another deal. Exum earned an A-.

Joseph was a big fan of Hood’s pick, saying the Jazz were able to draft both the best available player and the best player to fill the team’s needs. Describing him as a “mix of Rashard Lewis and Danny Granger,” he thinks Hood will be an excellent fit in Utah, who had “a great draft.”

Real GM

Jonathan Tjarks takes a look at each team and had a lot of positive things to say about Utah. He says that outside of Joel Embiid, “Exum has the best chance of any player in the draft of being a two-way star.” He also says that even though the Jazz have drafted behind the Orlando Magic, he’d “rather have an Exum/Burke backcourt than [Victor] Oladipo/[Elfrid] Payton.” Tjarks asserts that the draft may make Burks and Enes Kanter expendable.

A number of other outlets will continue to provide their analysis of the Draft, but this provides a sampling. The media seems to view Utah’s haul very positively, while bringing up appropriate questions about players roles, rotational battles and offseason movement. Fair enough. There are still lots to be determined as the team enters into free agency and trade season.

But today, thanks to an exhilarating Draft night, the outlook for the Utah Jazz looks bright and exciting.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Denim Millward, before SCH, wrote for Bleacher Report about the Jazz and the NBA. Despite this, he is actually a good writer, and we promise we will eschew the slideshow format on this site. He also contributes to The Color Commentator Magazine, and strangely, likes wrestling.

The “Qualifications” section of Quin Snyder’s coaching resume is a mightily impressive one. Juris Doctor and MBA Degrees, playing and coaching under legendary Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and coaching in the NCAA, NBA and D-League are just some of Snyder’s accomplishments that, on paper, make him look like an ideal candidate for an NBA head coaching job.

His previous head coaching results? Maybe not quite as much.

Despite a diverse and largely successful 22-year coaching career, Snyder is best known for his run as head coach of the Missouri Tigers men’s basketball squad that, following periods of success, ended somewhat controversially. Although some consider his final years at and exit from Mizzou a black mark on his resume, Snyder finds himself on the short list of head coaching candidates for the Utah Jazz, according to a report from Deseret News.

Snyder’s coaching career actually began at the NBA level. After a successful collegiate playing career under Krzyzewski at Duke and in the midst of working on his MBA, Snyder was assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers under Larry Brown. After his brief NBA foray in Tinseltown, Snyder headed back to Durham, North Carolina and demonstrated impressive multitasking skills by serving as an administrative assistant under Coach K while completing both his MBA and Juris Doctor degrees. Upon completion of said degrees in 1995, Snyder became a full-time assistant coach for the Blue Devils, and was promoted to associate head coach in 1997. In 1999, Snyder was tabbed to replace coaching legend Norm Stewart as Missouri head coach. Snyder hit the ground running, significantly overachieving in his inaugural season despite what was thought of as an undermanned roster comprised primarily of Stewart’s recruits. Snyder’s success continued in succeeding years, highlighted by four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances including an Elite Eight run in 2002.

Snyder’s popularity in Columbia hit a snag when an NCAA investigation into the program revealed multiple incidents of misconduct. As Snyder’s image declined, so too did the success of the Missouri program. Though all improprieties uncovered by the investigation were deemed minor, Snyder decided to resign in 2006. In 2007, Snyder tried his hand at coaching in the D-League, taking over the Austin Toros. Though he never won a D-League championship in his three-year stay in Austin, Snyder won more and saw more players from his squad get called up than any other coach in the league. After spending single seasons as an assistant coach in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, this time for the Lakers, Snyder was hired as head assistant coach for CSKA Moscow for the 2012-13 season under Ettore Messina, coincidentally another name loosely tied to the Utah Jazz head coaching job.

Snyder returned to the NBA last season and served as an assistant coach on Mike Budenholzer’s staff for the Atlanta Hawks. While it’s difficult to measure the impact, positive or negative, that an assistant coach has on a team, former Jazz forward and current Atlanta Hawk DeMarre Carroll gave Snyder a glowing review. “I have to give a shout out to Coach Quin,” Carroll said in an exit interview. “This is the first year a coach really worked with me on my footwork, my shot, spent time with me. That’s a credit to coach Quin. That shows me that he cares about me as a person, cares about my career.”

Offensively, Snyder seems to be somewhat of an expert in a variety of areas. Snyder is an expert at pick-and-roll offenses, as a 2009 FIBA Assist article co-authored by Snyder that discusses nearly every facet of pick-and-roll basketball can attest. Snyder also created a DVD/video based around his intricate motion offense that was also chock-full of very intricate and very specific details on motion principles, philosophies, rules, drills and myriad other facets of the offense. With a detail-oriented and cerebral coach like Snyder, previous offensive sets and philosophies may not be a surefire indicator of what Jazz fans could expect Snyder to run in Utah should he land the job.

In several interviews and publications, Snyder has demonstrated a high level of basketball comprehension and effective communication. It should come as little or no surprise that Snyder has evidently impressed Jazz brass enough in interviews to land on the short list of coaching candidates. However, it’s unlikely that his inauspicious exit at Missouri will not loom large over the prospect of hiring him. Are high-level credentials, diverse experience and in-depth offensive knowledge enough to outweigh perceived failure, especially at a lower level of competition than the NBA?

That’s for Dennis Lindsey and Co. to decide.

Author information

Denim Millward

Denim Millward, before SCH, wrote for Bleacher Report about the Jazz and the NBA. Despite this, he is actually a good writer, and we promise we will eschew the slideshow format on this site. He also contributes to The Color Commentator Magazine, and strangely, likes wrestling.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

It is accountability time. Back in August 2013, I laid out some predictions for the 2013-14 Utah Jazz season. Some were bold, while some were the exact opposite. With four games remaining in the waning season, it’s safe to take a look back and see how accurate or how off these prognostications were.

Gordon Hayward will lead the team in assists: This one was close. The honors go to Trey Burke, whose edged out his back court partner, 5.5 APG to 5.2 APG. If it helps any, Hayward currently has 379 dimes for the year, while Burke has 361.

Hayward will also lead the team in scoring: This fits into the less-than-bold category, but Hayward is indeed pacing the Jazz in scoring at a 16.0 PPG clip. That said, his efficiency is lacking, as the role of go-to scorer does not seem like an exact fit.

Alec Burks, whether he starts or comes off the bench, will finish second: The athletic combo guard is right behind Hayward with 14.0 PPG. Back in August, Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors may be think hard about this one, but I felt Burks ability to slash and get to the line, coupled with a gradually improving jumper, would position him to be a solid scoring threat.

Utah will be represented well at All-Star Weekend: Another safe bet, as Burke represented the franchise in the Rising Stars game, while winning the skills challenge. Jeremy Evans was denied the opportunity to regain his slam dunk crown.

Trey Burke will be the second Jazz player to win the Rookie of the Year award (Darrell Griffith being the first): This will be known in a few weeks. It’s clearly a three-man race between Burke, Victor Oladipo and Michael Carter-Williams. Chances are it will go to MCW, but it will be close.

The Jazz will honor Jerry Sloan this year: Check. And the Jazz did an absolutely masterful job in honoring the one and only Coach Sloan. It was certainly a highlight of this season as it allowed the fans to look back to some glory days with fondness.

The Jazz will be a top three shot-blocking team: Way off. At a collective 4.4 BPG, Utah is just 2oth in the league. I was banking on Favors improving on his gaudy 1.7 BPG in 23.2 MPG mark the previous season. Despite increased playing time, he dipped to 1.5 BPG. This prediction was also based on some solid playing time for Brandon Rush (who was solid his last full season) and Rudy Gobert (0.9 in limited action).

Favors will earn some All-Defensive team mentions, but won’t make it this season: This one could be in jeopardy. While he has had strong individual efforts, being the anchor of one of the NBA’s worst defenses won’t garner many votes, if any.

A lot of teams will be beating themselves over not drafting or signing Ian Clark: Probably a negative at this point. Clark is starting to get a few minutes here and there, but it’s highly unlikely his performance is causing opposing GMs to lose sleep. That said, he could be a very solid find. Clark has a good stroke and gives a lot of effort when on the court.

Dennis Lindsey will orchestrate at least one notable mid-season trade: Sure there were rumors (Richard Jefferson for Andrew Bynum; Marvin Williams for a first-round pick and the implausible Gordon Hayward to Boston rumors), but it was a quiet deadline. This year was less disappointing than the previous one, as the bevy of expiring contracts figured to be potential trade bait.

Despite the growing pains, this will be an exciting team for Jazz fans to rally around: This is a purely subjective prediction. It has absolutely been a season of struggle, ups and downs, highlights and low-lights (great piece the other day by Clint Johnson about this sordid season). There have been some positives, such as Burke’s recent game-winning 3-pointer. For me, it has been exciting, as we caught glimpses of the future.

And lastly, here were my quick hits.

To help with the whole Burke and Burks thing, Craig Bolerjack and Matt Harpring will be electrically shocked every time they use the wrong name: Clearly did not happen. Imagine the fun if the Jazz draft Aaron Gordon and Tyler Ennis…Burke and Burks, Enes and Ennis, Gordon and Gordon.

Favors will average a double-double. Kanter will not. But watch out the following year, world: Favors leads the team with 8.7 RPG, but many were predicting a few more boards per outing. Kanter has turned it on of late and is averaging that double-double the past six weeks.

Gobert will win the rookie dance-off, performing the Snake. The video will go viral that night: Oh, Rudy…

Biedrins will show he can still be a serviceable back-up big man: I will now cower in the corner, full of shame and embarrassment. Biedrins did earn $3.0M per point scored, so there is that.

Hayward will enlighten us with another full slate of Fresh Market ads that will dazzle and entertain. There will be immense rejoicing in the land: Yes, indeed.

Jeremy Evans will prove to be more than a highlight dunker. With an improved jump shot, Evans will show he belongs in the league: This has been one of the key developments of the season. At 5.9 PPG and 4.6 RPG, Evans definitely showed that he is a very viable rotation player. He started the year on a torrid pace, tailed off in the middle, but is coming back around. Utah has him locked in for another season at a mere $1.7M–a pittance compared to his productivity and his electric dunks.

Tyrone Corbin will finish the season as the head coach: And he will. But we will know soon if he is the head coach moving forward, as Laura Thompson highlighted.

Gobert’s wingspan and/or standing reach will be mentioned 7,653 times, most of them by the Jazz broadcasters: We got one right!

For the third straight season, Utah fanatics will watch the Golden State situation with eagerness. An injury will curtail the Warriors’ season a bit, but not enough to bring the Jazz a second lottery pick. Late teens would be my guess: This is one that many wish was not accurate. While the Warriors flirted with that elusive ninth place spot in the Western Conference, they seem secure in their postseason positioning and the Jazz will mostly likely be left with the #23 pick. Sadness.

Hayward, Favors, Kanter, and Burks will all receive Most Improved Player votes, but none will win it: Burks will probably get the most attention out of this quartet.

Kevin O’Connor will sign an extension, but will continue to take a gradually smaller role: He still has an influence on the team, but that seems to be dissipating as Lindsey is clearly at the helm.

We will see a sharp increase in Jazz fan Twitter etiquette: Twitter definitely can enhance one’s fan experience and it has for me. That said, there is still a long ways to go here. One day, all of us should just Kumbaya-it out.

Not too great, but not too shabby. How did other Jazz fans fare with their personal crystal balling?Pretty soon it will be time to make some more predictions for what will inevitably be a very eventful offseason for the Utah Jazz.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.

Thursday, February 20th is a date NBA fans have clearly marked on their calendars: the NBA trade deadline. As is the case this time each year, the basketball world circles with rumors of teams discussing their players, their picks or assets and the financial situations. Teams wanting to make the Playoffs may consider deals that help them short-term. Others who know the postseason is no longer a possibility may opt to adopt a long-term approach. It’s an exciting time of the year and one that can affect a team going forward. (side note: deadline day is a perfect reason why Twitter was created. Constant refresh that entire day. Sheer genius.)

Last year, due to the amazing number of expiring contracts, the Utah Jazz were among the most mentioned teams in floating rumors. Then, the deadline came and went without a single move, which was disappointing to some fans and understandable to others. Whether or not the franchise will be involved in any trades this go-around, the deadline is bound to be another fun roller coaster of intrigue.

The Jazz are typically not regulars when it comes to brokering deadline deals, with only four such moves in the last 10 years. When they have, they have been moves that affected the franchise both on and off the court. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, as we review the deadline deals from the past decade:

This trade came in that illustrious post-Stockton and Malone season where Jerry Sloan orchestrated a marvelous season from a team some predicted to be the worst team in NBA history. It was a roster full of overachievers, including the hard-working Handlogten (Clark was a disappointment and his life has become tragic). The Jazz also possessed a lot of financial flexibility and they used it in a deal to acquire some long-term assets. Gugliotta was at the end of a nice career and was making $11.7 million–money the Suns wanted to shed. The Jazz absorbed his deal and picked up some picks along the way. His modest contributions on the court were icing on the cake.

The Jazz used one of the picks for Kirk Snyder–an unmitigated disaster. But five years later, the other pick–acquired by Phoenix through the ineptitude of the New York Knicks–eventually became today’s leading scorer, Gordon Hayward. Hayward’s future is very bright and he could be a cornerstone for many years to come. All in all, a very good trade (something the Jazz hope they replicated with last summer’s move with the Golden State Warriors).

Stevenson had an up-and-down tenure with the Jazz. Drafted straight out of high school, he encountered some off-court troubles that marred his early career. The athletic guard played a reserve role his first three seasons and was eventually given the chance to start. Stevenson was solid, but was definitely not spectacular: 11.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 2.0 APG as a starter (He did have this redeeming interaction with Ricky Davis). His perimeter shooting was poor, which caused spacing issues (coincidentally, as his career waned, his outside shooting was his main staple). Thus the move for Giricek, which was consummated on the same day as the Gugliotta transaction.

Giricek is best known for his rough relationship with Sloan. He seemed to have frequent stays in Jerry’s doghouse. But for four seasons, he was a decent perimeter threat. His first season, he was quite good (13.5 PPG and 36% 3s)–enough for Larry H. Miller to re-sign him to a four-year, $16 million deal. He never reached those marks again, but had moments. Eventually he was traded in a December deal for sharpshooter and fan favorite Kyle Korver.

This was a move that disappointed a lot of Jazz fans, as well as a franchise point guard in Deron Williams. Brewer had become a fan favorite thanks to his tireless energy, his defensive effort and his athletic dunks. Few players in Jazz history have functioned better without the ball. While his shooting was a weakness, Brewer shot a high percentage and looked to be a mainstay in the back court. Well, the Jazz were in the midst of some financial bedlam, thanks to several large contracts ($59 million combined for Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Deron Williams and Paul Millsap). With C.J. Miles showing some modest improvement and undrafted free agent Wesley Matthews becoming a revelation for Utah, Brewer was shipped out for a draft pick which was used that offseason to bring in Al Jefferson.

Brewer was reportedly on the team plane to fly out for a road trip when word came out. He bid his farewells to his coaches and teammates and went to Memphis. He unfortunately was hurt his first game with the Grizzlies and never played for them after that.

This whole experience still stings for some of the Utah Jazz populace. Much has been said about it and it will always be a major date in franchise history. A few weeks earlier was the infamous Jazz/Bulls game that ended up being Sloan’s final at the helm. The discord between Sloan and Williams was evident and whatever transpired that fateful evening proved to be the final straw for the venerable coach. Tyrone Corbin was installed and Utah tried to get back into a groove, but things were still not right.

Then came the shocking news that D-Will had been shipped across the country to the Nets, in exchange for a package of promising players and valuable draft picks. The Nets had been in talks with the Denver Nuggets for the then-pouting star Carmelo Anthony. After their offer was usurped by the New York Knicks, the Jazz and Nets moved quickly to make this happen. Williams had been the heart and soul for Utah. His talent was remarkable, while his attitude was sometimes sour.

Who won the trade? It’s hard to make any firm declarations yet, but indicators may favor the Jazz. Williams has battled constant injuries throughout his time in a Nets uniform. While it appears Brooklyn will be playoff bound after a slow, slow start, Williams still does not look right (with a max contract in tow, too).

Utah went on to pick up two #3 picks in Favors and Enes Kanter (Jazz moved up in the draft lottery that May) and their potential is evident. Favors looks to be the defensive anchor going forward, while the Jazz are still seeing what they have in Kanter. Harris was serviceable before being traded for Marvin Williams, who is having a nice season for Utah. The final draft pick was part of the package that enabled Dennis Lindsey to move up for Trey Burke. When it is all said and done, the Jazz sent Deron Williams for Favors, Kanter, Williams and part of Burke. Not a bad haul.

With the Jazz add a fifth trade to this list next week? This is the first deadline with Dennis Lindsey fully in charge, so who knows what will transpire. If Draft night was an precursor, he may be very active next week.

Only time will tell.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife have four amazing children, with a fifth joining the Smith family fun soon.